Qntprtzy
By Gilean Majere
Chapter 1
Flames leapt throughout the sky above the Grand Staircase in Upper Basin, and cheers rang out among the small crowd assembled there. Selias lifted the white veil covering her face, and looked up into the eyes of her beloved Carthas, as he leaned down to kiss her. The newly aquired wedding rings sparkled brightly in the light of the Sable Moon above, and shone with the love that they felt for each other.
The day was bright, and emotions ran high. Celebrations, festivities, singing, dancing...the couple were well known throughout the dream, and liked all. Dreamers from every house attended, and the hatred that ran deep between many houses was forgotten for the time being. Calenture joked openly with Dreamers of Light, and Sable Moon told stories to the Protectors of Radiance. The Alliance, Union, and Gathering all mingled together, and talked of many things.
As the hours passed, it was soon time for Carthas and Selias to depart for their honeymoon. People gathered to wish the couple well throughout the rest of their dream together. The party continued onward for several hours after the couple left.
Nine months later. Balthir, the same Dreamsmith called upon to preside over the wedding of Selias and Carthas, was again summoned to their side. This time, it was to deliver their child into the dream.
After many hours of labor, through which Carthas paced continually in the next room, Selias finally gave birth to their daughter. Balthir gently handed the small child to Selias, whom cradled it gently. Carthas dashed into the room as soon as the nurse closeby touched the portal to let herself out.
As he looked down at his glowing wife holding their daughter, he was overcome with emotion, and his tears ran freely. He leaned down, and gently wrapped his arms around his fragile wife. Selias' smiled and handed the small dreamer to her father. Carthas gently rocked the small child in his arms, and Selias' glowed. Balthir grinned, and looked tenderly to Selias.
"So, milady....what might her name be?"
Selias looked to Carthas, and at her newly born daughter. Carthas nodded to her, and Selias smiled. "Mithrillia...her name is Mithrillia."
Chapter 2
Over the following week, Selias and Carthas carried Mithrillia to all the houses, eager to share their happiness with all their friends. Returning from a short excursion to the Protectors of Radiance, they walked down the path through the Valley of Totality. Shortly after they reached the cliffs, they heard a loud roar behind them.
Carthas twirled around, and pushed Selias and Mithrillia protectively behind him. Emerging from the Grand Entry's Harrow Glades portal, was dark mare after dark mare. Ataraxis was the first through the portal, and the one from which erupted the roar that froze the two dreamers. Behind him appeared Xatoc, Saaltak, Dargozax, Foulmoth, Memnoch, Kruugaar, Nydizaloth, Fraxxin, Iravissoo, and several others. They slowly advanced on the two.
"Selias..run!".Carhas ordered her.."I'll keep them here, you run!"
Selias shuddered nervously. Two forces fought within her....part of her steadfastly refused to leave her true love, Carthas...yet, another force pushed her to run, to save the life of her daughter.
The second that Selias hesitated, trying to decide, was the fateful second. The mares rushed en-force, and overwhelmed them. Selias was knocked to the ground, and Carthas stuggled, swinging his Gatesmasher violently. Kruugaar roared, and leapt at the prone Selias, whom was still holding Mithrillia. Mind rushing, Selias instinctively evoked Invisibility, and rolled away from the attack, holding Mithrillia protectively near her. Behind her, she heard Carthas scream in panic, as the mares slowly but inevitably began to surround him.
Selias set Mithrillia to the side, hidden behind a small stone. The small dreamer was still under the effects of her mother's Invisibility, because although their bodies were now separated, their souls would be joined for some time.
Taking one last regretful look at her small daughter, Selias returned to the battle.
Between her strong blast, and Carthas' Gatesmasher, any one of the mares would have been mere fodder. However, the combined strength of them was more than they could handle. The two dreamers fought valiantly, and managed to collapse several of the mares. But, in the end, they were overcome.
The two dreamers lay on the ground, coherence slowly slipping away from them. The mares stood to the side, oozing essence, and attempting to heal their scars. Selia's gaze fell upon the Carthas beside her...remembering how they met, and how he had saved her life from a mere Emphant...how she had been so amazed that anyone could kill those beasts...remembering times when he had gen-sat for her, so she could spend her time hunting....remembering how he had helped her with her sphere tasks..and all of her art tasks. Her eyes met his, and she knew that he was remembering these same things. As his eyes glazed over, and his figure began to fade...she found herself looking past..no, through him....to the portal to Harrow Glades.
From this portal emerged a rust-colored Agoknight, with small pink bows tied to its whiskers. It was Gobolos. Gobolos looked to the assembly of mares, and then at the two dreamers before her slowly losing their form. She looked accusingly at the mares.
"Pittz, Ataraxis...Fraxxin. Uuura..." Ataraxis snorted contemptively at her, and Fraxxin growled. Gobolos ignored them, and walked over to Selia and Carthas. She looked down, and said, "Goragon, eokius.....ulpda mathz."
Selia stared at this curious dark mare before her, and lowered her gaze to the stone behind which she had hidden Mithrillia. She hoped that she would be okay...how she hoped that someone would find her, and take care of her. The world slowly began to fade, and darken. Selia closed her eyes, and left the dream forever.
Chapter 3
Gobolos watched the two inert forms before her slowly fade, and dissapate. Ataraxis looked toward her, and roared, "Plakha, Gobolos....tzin wafa mu."
Gobolos lowered her head.
Memnoch roared with laughter, and motioned to the portal. "Coatm, kotoke...erirfnu pliktok Gobolos en coatm carnge po eoknius!"
Gobolos lowered her head as she watched the pack of dark mares file out the door, in search of more dreamers to destroy. She stood silently at the clff, and stared at the Moon sadly. Suddenly, behind her, she heard a quiet whimper. She turned, and followed the noise. She looked behind a small rock, and noticed a small dreamer-child laying on the ground. She reached down, and picked the child up gently within her claws, and pulled it close.
The small child whimpered at first contact with the chaotic warmth of the mare..but soon snuggled close, and quieted down. Gobolos started suddenly, as the small dreamer snuggled down, and cuddled close to her. She stood there for a moment, and then hugged the small child-dreamer close.
She then walked back into the portal towards Harrow Glades, still holding the child-dreamer tightly. The child-dreamer's soft coo-ing noises faded as the portal stilled.
Chapter 4
Wind blew gustily through the Harrow Glades, the cold wind biting Pazin's cheeks. Leaves rustled across the ground near where he sat. He shivered, and hunched over to warm himself. Time passed while he sat there, motionless, leaning against the fallen log. The shadows tossed and turned across the ground, entracing in their endless dance of fluttering and twirling.
Off to his side, a small flash of light erupted. A beam of brightness cut the gloom like a blade of light. The entire glade glowed for a minute, and then dimmed. Pazin looked to the side.
"Another Night Azure..", he sighed. Walking over, picked the shield up, and tossed it in his pack. He went back to his spot, and collapsed on the ground, leaning back against the log.
"I really need to get someone to gen-sit with me next time.", he sighed, as he waited for the next item to appear out of the magical generator. Time passed, with the silence of the glade overwhelming. The utter silence was uncomfortable, after the constant battles and cries of the Cenotaph. Seconds stretched to minutes, which stretched to hours, while he sat by the generator, waiting for items to appear.
Suddenly, off to his side, he heard a rustle. He jumped off of the ground, drawing his blade, and stood, ready for battle.
"Who's there?" he asked.
Silence was his only answer. As he stood there, the utter silence began to grow ominous, seeming to become an entity of its own. His feet shifted nervously, as he peered between the leaves, trying to find what had made the noise. Finally, he gave it up to an over-active imagination, and started to sit again.
Before he sat down, he heard another rustle. This time, he was sure that it wasn't his imagination. He grabbed his pack, and moved into the direction of the noise. As he neared the leaves, he saw two glowing eyes, which abruptly turned, and disappeared.
Pazin gave chase, thrashing through the underbrush, following the Emphant. Such little prey, what was it doing out this far? Paztin didn't have time to think, his only thought was the hunt after the long hours of gen-sitting. He dashed after it, grasping for its tail, which always seemed to elude his grasp.
Suddenly, he burst into a clearing, into the midst of a swarm of Emphants. The miniature dragons flew circles around his head, confusing him. He swung his blade aimlessly, slashing at the flying forms. His blade was knocked from his hands, and he dropped to the ground. It was over, there were too many of them to even bother fighting. Pazin waited for the final slash that would end it all. Then, a dark voice called out. "Pracie.", Gobolos called out.
He raised his head, and opened his eyes. Standing before him was a young dreamer, she could not have been over three or four years old. Her body was garbed in trails of green vines and leaves, garnered from the Glades, he assumed. Her body was an unnatural color, at once seeming black, and green, and blue. Her eyes were tinted red, and her nose ended sharply, accenting her young face. The emphants swirled around her protectively. A baby emphant, perched upon her shoulder, hissed at Pazin. Behind her, off to the side, stood the dark mare Gobolos.
"G...g...greetings, G..G..Gobolos...and...", Pazin stuttered, unsure of himself.
"Aeikna, eokius.", Gobolos said, and pushed the child forward.
"Aeikna, eokius! Ulpda Qntprazy.", she the child said, pointing to herself. "Hw Ulpda?", she asked, pointing to Pazin. His mind raced. She pointed to herself. That must mean her name...it must be either Ulpda, or Qntprazy. She used the word Ulpda again...so that must not be it...Ulpda must mean "to be.."
"I am..I mean, ulpda Pazin." he said, extending his hand. Her warm smile told him that his guess had been correct. She took his hand, and pointed in the direction of Threshold.
"Neki ifnru pal voragar vorasha Threshold?" the small child asked.
Pazin looked at the child curiously. "You wanna go to Threshold?"
Gobolos leaned forward, and whispered to the small child. Her face brightened. The child nodded vigorously, and grasped his hand. Gobolos shook with suppressed laughter, watching the exaggerated movements of the small child.
Pazin led the two through the glades, and out towards Threshold. Followed, the entire time, by the swarm of Emphants. The emphants followed them until they got to the entrance of Threshold. The swarm stopped moving in the Valley of Totality, and Qntprazy turned to them, and smiled.
"Plahka, Gobolos, ulpda tzin vang." She said, smiling. Then, her face fell, as she said, "Gagaron."
Gobolos smiled lovingly at the still young child, and said solemnly, "Gagaron, beanfon." Then she turned, and walked away. The swarm of Emphants took wing, and flew away, leaving the child near tears, holding Pazin's hand tightly. A little emphant was still clutched onto her shoulder, protectively. Pazin gently tugged, and she turned around, smiling, and followed him into Threshold.
Chapter 5
Qntprtzy's eyes widened as she stepped through the portal. She was in a great stone building, the likes of which she'd never seen before. She had visited temples on the outskirts of the Dream city, when she ran with the packs of Emphants through the dreamscape...but she had never been near any building as large as this.
She was entranced by every small torch, every lovingly carved symbol on the wall. She knelt down, and examined a shiny object that had fallen in the corner. She ran her hand over it...soft, shiny..it was a small coil, with a pointed barb at the top. As she examined it, she noticed words inscribed on it...words, which she couldn't understand.
Pazin looked down, and laughed.
"That's a codex, Qnt..qntprt..", Pazin stumbled over the odd name. "Look, can I just call you Pritz?"
Qntprtzy looked at him oddly, and he sighed. He pointed at himself, and said "Ulpda Pazin."
Qntprtzy beamed a smile, and pointed at herself. "Ulpda Qntprtzy!"
Pazin nodded. Then, he pointed to her, and said, "Ulp Pritzy?"
Qntprtzy looked queerly at him for a few minutes, and then realization finally dawned on her. She nodded in agreement.
"Okay, Pritz...this is a codex...say it, co-dex"
Qntprtzy looked at the item in her hands... "Ker-dux!"
Pazin laughed heartily. "Well, that's close enough. C'mon, I know some people I would like you to meet."
Pazin took her hand, and led her through the halls. Many people looked questioningly at the oddly attired little girl, and some dreamers frowned, and stopped talking as she walked through. Finally, they arrived in the halls of the Alliance of the Eclipse. Standing in the corner, surrounded by many dreamers, was a tired looking old man. At the sight of Pazin, however, his face alit, and he stood up.
"Pazin, m'boy! Glad to see you're back with us!" He said loudly. He began walking across the floor, his cane, almost uneeded, clicking in time with his steps. "So, tell me, how did your gen-sitting go today...", the old man said, and then turned hiz gaze to Qntprtzy, "and just where did you find this little gem at?"
"Well, Uncle Jant, that just IS where I found her at..." Pazin started, and began to relate the whole story.
Qntprtzy listened intently to the two strange men talking in a language she couldn't understand for a few moments, before becoming bored. She began to walk around, and explore the room.
She ran her hands over the smooth lavendar walls, admiring every twist and turn of the architecture. She looked over at a nearby portal, and saw a small teal colored object laying there. Picking it up, she noted that it looked like a codex.
"Ker-dux!", she said, beaming. She turned the item over and around, trying to find any words on it. But, she could find none. She looked more closely at the item in her hands. Unlike a codex, it's tip was not barbed...it's tip was rounded...sphere like. Not seeing anything written upon it, she prepared to smash it open on the floor to see if there was anything hidden inside. However, as she tightened her grip to fling the object at the floor, the entire room went dark!
After her initial shock of fear, Quntprtzy dropped the codex, and screamed! She couldn't see anything! Not even shadows! Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms tighten around her, and this only served to increase her fear. She was preparing to scream louder, when suddenly, she could see again. And, she was staring directly into the concerned face of Pazin.
Suddenly, behind her, Qntrptzy heard a small chuckle.
"'Ers the prob'em.", a deep voice grunted. One of the people whom had been talking to Jant when they entered was holding up Qntprtzy's newfound treasure. "'S a cursed teal alt we got 'ere...blinds ye'..."
Jant and Pazin chuckled. "Getting yourself into trouble a little early, m'dear?" Jant said. Qntprtzy reguarded the entire exchange with a great deal of confusion.
Jant looked at Pazin. "She deaf, Paz?"
"Oh, no uncle...she's not. I think, that she can only understand Maren...."
Jant's face brightened. "Ahh, well, that's not a problem...Byorn! C'mere, you lazy bloke.."
A thin scraggly man sauntered over from the corner. "Y'sir?"
"Byorn, run up to the house, and get Schazzel to come down here, okay?"
"Schazzel. Yup. Gottit." The thin scraggly man dashed out the portal on his way to the house.
Jant reached into his pack, and pulled out another alteror. He leaned down, and offered it to Qntprtzy. The small child began frantically clawing and scrambling away from it, overcome with fright. Pazin chuckled.
"Here, Pritz....it's okay..."
Pazin took the alt, and handed pressed it into Qntprtzy's hand. The Free Action alt took effect, and Qntprtzy's face brightened. She began to dance and twirl all around the Threshold.
The two dreamers chuckled as they watched her sway. They talked a few moments, and then there was a disturbance at the portal. A ravishing young lady stepped in, her raven hair falling down her back like an onyx waterfall. Her Alliance of the Eclipse shield worn on her chest shone with the light of pride. Pazin and Jant alike bowed in her presence. She turned to the small dark child sitting in the corner watching the entire event with interpretation. The lady smiled at the little girl.
"Aieka, Qntprtzy...ulpda Schazzel, dideyohvsgi kototke."
Pazin and Jant's faces both showed a blank expression. Schazzel laughed lightly, and said to them, "Dideyohvsgi kototke, teacher of Maren."
Schazzel turned to the small child, and smiled. "Well, let's take her up to the house, and see what we can do!" Schazzel extended her arm to Qntprtzy, and said to her, "Qntprtzy, coatm gru Schazzel ni resancae?"
Qntprtzy smiled, and took Schazzel's hand, and nodded happily.
Then, the four walked through the portal, and up the path to the Alliance.
Chapter 6
Keltos and Brian stood in the Threshold of House Calenture, engaged deeply in conversation.
"Did you see that girl?", Brian asked incredulously.
"Yes, I did....she couldn't....she couldn't have been a normal dreamer....", Brian replied grimly.
"Are you saying that that small child was a Mare in disguise?"
"Brian, have you ever seen a NORMAL dreamer, with that type of skin pigment? Sickly gray, dark blue....if she's not a mare in disguise, then she is infected with Chaos, which is as bad, if not worse..."
"She didn't speak dreamer, neither..."
"What?"
"Didn't you hear her, Keltos? When she talked to that Alliance member..."
"Yes, what?"
"Well....she spoke...Maren."
Keltos stared grimly at the portal through which the two dreamers under discussion had departed through.
"We must tell the house of this...", he replied, after a long pause. "Come, Brian...let us leave."
The two members of House Calenture departed through the portal to the house.
Chapter 7
As the quartet walked up the path through Lambent flats on the way to the Alliance, Schizzel began teaching Qntprtzy her first lesson in speech. The small emphant sat on her shoulder, wrapped tightly against her, asleep.
"Voragar kronda Resancae?", Qntprtzy asked.
"Yes, little one. But, we say "We are going to house Alliance."
Qntprtzy's face adopted a blank gaze.
"Here, little one....voragar, means go"
"Gooo?", queried Qntprtzy.
Schizzel grinned. "Close enough, Pritz....now, we don't say kronda...we say house"
"Houwsse?"
"Yes, little one...house...then, we don't say Resancae, we say Alliance of the Eclipse"
Qntprtzy's face paled. "Allrr...Alliarr...Alliarnss...Alarnsse uf tha E...Ek...Resancae!"
Schizzel laughed. "Well, we'll let it pass for now, Pritz.."
Qntprtzy grinned brightly, and turning, threw her arms around Pazin in a tight hug. Pazin's faced turned red, and he reached down and picked her up in his arms.
"Tired of walking, Pritz?"
Qntprtzy nodded wearily.
"Well, don't worry, we're here..."
They passed through the final portal, and stood in the courtyard of the Alliance of the Eclipse.
Schizzel reached out for Qntprtzy, and Pazin handed her lightly over to her.
"Come, little one...let us get you a bed arranged, and a room." Schizzel smiled to Pazin. "Sorry, boys..but this is time for us girls."
Pazin laughed. "Well, Pritz...I guess I'll see you later, little one."
Qntprtzy smiled brightly, as Schizzel turned and carried her into the house.
Pazin turned around and looked at Jant, and was surprised to see him smiling slyly at him. Pazin blushed, trying to figure our what the look was for, and Jant laughed.
"So, Paz....got a bit of a crush, do ya?"
"W..What?" Pazin stuttered.
"Come now, m'boy...don't think I didn't see the way you were smiling at Schizzel now...", Jant said smiling broadly.
Pazin blushed. "I...I wasn't...I wasn't smiling at...", he stammered."I...was it that obvious?", he asked, defeated.
"Yes, m'boy...it was that obvious!", Jant said, and burst out in strong laughter.
The two stood there for a bit, Pazin blushing furiously, and Jant laughing. A shadow appeared in the portal, and the two turned toward it. Member after member of House Calenture began filing through the portal, and the two Alliance members stepped back.
A tall member of House Calenture stood at the forefront of the mob. He was of average height, but was still an imposing figure. He seemed to be the figure of evil incarnate...long raven black hair pulled back, and a trim goatee coming down around his mouth. His eyes were black as coal, and clashed starkly with his pale tan skin. He had the air of someone used to having their orders followed. He turned slowly to Pazin, and glared at him.
"Where is she, dreamer?", he asked accusingly.
"Wh...who?" Pazin asked, stunned. He turned around looking for Jant, who had vanished from sight.
"The girl, boy...where is the girl?" he replied sternly.
"I..I...I don't.."
"DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW!", screamed the Calenture member furiously..."I SAW YOU WALK THROUGH THRESHOLD WITH HER!"
Pazin scrambled backwards, followed by the furious Calenture member. Suddenly, Jant was at his side, pressing an amulet into his hand, grinning. Jant grabbed his hand, and pulled him through the portal behind him, which he'd warded.
Keltos' face couldn't have registered more shock than when he realized that all the portals had been warded, and that boy had been pulled through them. His face grew red with anger, and his hands clenched and un-clenched tensely. He swung around, and more than a few of the Calenture initiates reflexively tensed in fear.
With his anger under control, Keltos looked out at his following. "Come...we'll deal with these fools later."
The members of House Calenture began filing out the portal, and before Keltos passed through, he spared one last second for a furious glare at the Alliance.
Chapter 8
Inside Schizzel's room, the lesson continued. Schizzel held up a codex, and said.."How many?"
"Hum!", Qntprtzy confidently replied, and her small pet emphant hissed at the codex playfully.
Schizzel nodded. "Now, little one, say it as we do....one"
"Wun!" Qntprtzy replied, smiling.
"Close...try again.."
Qntprtzy frowned slightly, and continued until she triumphantly replied "One!"
"Okay, now...", Schizzel picked up a second codex. "....how many now?"
"Dum!" replied Qntprtzy happily.
Schizzel grinned. "Okay...now, we say this word, two."
"Tooooe?" Qntprtzy asked.
"No, two...keep trying.."
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Pazin entered, followed by a very weary Jant.
"Schizzel....House Calenture was just here demanding to know where Pritz was..."
Schizzel paled. "Have you told everyone else?"
"Yes...we told everyone in the house now..."
Schizzel nodded. "Okay..well, let's go find out what they want..." She turned to Qntprtzy. "Little one, I want you to stay here for now, okay? Practice the words I taught you, and we'll try some more when I get back."
Qntprtzy smiled, walked over to Jant, who smiled wearily. The emphant flew up off of Qntprtzy's should, and alighted on a lamp set against the wall, and curled up asleep. "I'll stay here, and watch over her, m'lady.."
Qntprtzy hugged Jant, and motioned for him to lean over. She pointed to Pazin and Schizzel, and whispered in his ear. Jant looked confused. "Schizzel, what does "nula" mean?"
Schizzel blushed furiously, and replied..."oh, nothing important, Jant. Well, Paz, let's get going." She replied, practically pulling Paz out of the room after her.
Qntprtzy laughed, and Jant joined in. He leaned down to Qntprtzy, and said. "Let's just not tell her that I know some Maren, as well...", he said, laughing softly. "Okay, Pritz...shall we continue teaching you our language?"
Qntprtzy nodded, and the two sat down and began studying.
Chapter 9
Meanwhile, down in Threshold, Keltos had called a meeting of the City. Everyone gathered in the Library of Souls, and Keltos began his speech.
"Dreamers of Underlight, and event happened tonight that both shocked, and appalled me. A member of the Alliance of the Eclipse, brought a creature tainted with Chaos, into our fair city. Pazin of the Eclipse, brought a creature that has the form of a small child, named Qntprtzy. This, creature, speaks Maren, and visibly is tainted with Chaos. This is not a dreamer...it is a Mare in disguise, or a new form of being."
Marjol, an initiate of the Dreamers of Light rose his voice. "What proof do you have that this being is NOT a dreamer? Perhaps she is from a newly awakened realm of Cloudsbreak!"
Keltos turned on the dreamer, with the look of a predator choosing his prey. "As I said, she speaks MAREN. This is not a language of Cloudsbreak, Marjol, not of any realm. It is a language of the beings of Chaos. She was dressed in the vines and leaves of the Harrow Glades, again, a place of the dream, FREQUENTED by those of Chaos."
Marjol frowned, and faded back into the crowd. Another dreamer, Janet, of GoTE addressed Keltos.
"Has this being exhibited violent tendencies? I find it hard to believe that the Alliance would harbor a violent being...."
"Janet, I followed for a short while. While in their Threshold, this small being suddenly began, for no appearant reason, began running and screaming about frantically, until calmed by Pazin."
The assembled dreamers looked at each other, and began holding private conversations amongst themselves.
Keltos smiled, and finished up. "I just wished to make it known. We should not have a being of Chaos wandering about in Underlight, unknown of." He finished, and stepped down. He turned to Brian, whom had come with him.
"Shall we go see what our good friends at DoL think of this development?"
Brian, the ever faithful follower, simply nodded.
Chapter 10
Schizzel and Pazin arrived at the AoE threshold to find the entire place in utter chaos. As soon as they entered, they were hit by a barrage of questions.
"Where is it?"
"What is is?"
"Can we see her?"
"Where did she come from?"
Schizzel raised her voice above the crowd, trying to gain some semblance of order. She finally gave up, and screamed at the top of her voice, "SILENCE!!!"
The barrage of questions slowly calmed down, and she gathered everyone's attention. She turned first to Dalmar, a member of OoSM whom she had known for quite some time.
"Dalmar, can you tell me what all this is?"
Dalmar smiled, and pulled his hood back, revealing his long dark hair, and elven face. He smiled warmly at Schizzel, and replied, "Word has it, m'dear, that you are keeping a Mare at your house."
Schizzel stared at him confused. "A mare?"
Dalmar nodded. "Yes, m'dear...a mare. One that has taken the shape of a dreamer. I believe, he said, that it was in the form of a small child."
Realization finally dawning on Schizzel, she deigned to hold in her anger.
"She is NOT a mare, she is simply a little girl. Her name is Qntprtzy, and yes...she does speak Maren. We don't know from whence she came, but she was delivered to Pazin here by Gobolos."
"But Schizzel, is that not more proof that this child could, in fact, be a mare in disguise? She was brought to you by a Dark Mare?"
Schizzel shook her head. "Gobolos would not plot against us dreamers."
That statement brought a lot of nervous muttering in the crowd, and Schizzel again demanded silence.
"M'dear...with that statement, you claim to understand the thoughts of a Dark Mare. They are beings of Chaos...and you are a being of Order. You cannot claim for sure just WHAT Gobolos would, and would NOT do.
Schizzel turned to Dalmar.
"Dalmar, I don't know with my head Gobolos' intentions. But, I do know with my heart that Qntprtzy is not here to harm us."
Dalmar looked at Schizzel thoughtfully, and shook his head. Schizzel, I have complete faith in you, but I must see her for myself before I can form my own thoughts on the matter.
Schizzel nodded to him. "Fine, Dalmar....truth be told, I would rather you come to the conclusion yourself than base it on what I say."
Dalmar looked at Schizzel thoughtfully, and pulled his hood back up. "I shall come by sometime, and hopefully I can meet this....Qntprtzy....and get to know her better." He took his staff in hand, and stepped through the crowd to the portal.
The crowd slowly began to disperse as Schizzel answered questions. Pazin stood in the background, and watched her handle the situation admirably. After the last dreamer had left, Schizzel turned to Pazin wearily.
"Did you see anyone from House Calenture present, Pazin?"
Thinking back, Pazin realized that there had been no House Calenture, Union of the Covenant, or Protectors of the Radiance house members present...only those from the Order of the Sable Moon, the Gathering of the Entranced, and the Dreamers of Light had been present, and asking questions. He told all this to Schizzel, who looked around thoughtfully.
She sighed, and turned to Pazin. "We must go to these houses and talk to them, so that they will know about Qntprtzy, and not act without thinking."
Pazin nodded, and the two left to go to the houses.
Chapter 11
Several hours later, the two dreamers were walking wearily through Evernight Plateau. Their trips to the last two houses had proven completely fruitless. They had entered the houses, and sat there for some time. However, no one had left, and they sat there for a long time waiting. House Calenture was their last stop, before they returned to their house.
As they walked through the portal to House Calenture, they were greeted with a familiar sight.
No one.
Pazin sighed, and threw his pack on the ground in frustration.
"Where IS everyone???"
"I don't know, Pazin...", Schazzel replied, "I just don't know." She stared at the empty house entrance in front of her, and sighed. "Well, there's nothing that we can do here, Pazin. Let's return to the Alliance, and see what we can do there."
Pazin picked up his pack, and the two departed to Lambent, taking the shortcut through Cenotaph and Ossuary.
As they arrived at the house, they were greeted by chak fire. Pazin grabbed Schazzel, and pulled her to the ground to cover her.
Dreamers from every house ran around the entrance, firing chak blasts, firestorming, blasting, blinding...complete and utter chaos. Pazin and Schazzel edged around the frey to the entrance to the house, and slipped in through the entrance. They were greeted by the rulers of the Alliance, Jant, Qntprtzy, and three other dreamers; Dalmar of the Order, Marjol of DoL, and Janet of the Gathering.
Qntprtzy was in the corner, huddled over in tears. Jant stood nearby, comforting her. Kallen, an AoE ruler, turned to the duo.
"Schazzel, Pazin, we must do something about Qntprtzy. These dreamers out here are Calenture, the Union, and the Protectors. All of them are demanding that Qntprtzy be turned over to them."
"We can't do that!", Schazzel interrupted, but Kallen held up a restraining hand.
"I didn't say that we would, Schazzel."
Dalmar stepped forward. "As I said I would, I came and talked with Qntprtzy, Schazzel. And, I agree with her. We may learn much from her," Dalmar paused, and smiled, "and, in my heart, I do not fear her."
Marjol stepped forward. "I don't think that we have anything to fear from her, as well. She behaves as a dreamer, not a mare."
Janet spoke up. "And, even if she was not a Dreamer, we could not allow these...BARBARIANS to do to her what they wish to do."
Schazzel nodded, and smiled. "I am glad that we have the support of such noble people, and it is greatly appreciated."
Kallen smiled warmly. "Yes, Schazzel, we will not allow these hostile dreamers to harm Qntprtzy."
Schazzel smiled, and walked over to the corner where Qntprtzy sat, sobbing. She sat her hand on Jant's shoulder, and he nodded and stepped away. Schazzel leaned down, and whispered to Qntprtzy.
"What's wrong, little one? Do not fear...we will protect you!"
Qntprtzy looked up through tear filled eyes. "Mu yubnub Qntprtzy?"
Schazzel nodded. "Yes, little one....we shall protect you."
"Resancae, en Lun, en Got, en Lum....burrd yubnub Qntprtzy?"
"Yes, we will all protect you."
"Xup...xup..mu waqa....prazah..."
"Yes, Qntprtzy...some of us might die...but you shall be protected. We WON'T let them harm you, my little one."
"Schazzel...prazah? Pazin...prazah? Jant...prazah?????
Qntprtzy jumped to her feet. "TZI!!!!", she yelled, and dashed out the front door.
Pazin, Schazzel, Jant, and everyone else jumped to their feet, and dashed out the front door following her. As they burst through the portal, the first thing that they saw was the chak fire had ceased.
Standing in the middle of the room was Qntprtzy, with her blade in her hands. A look of hurt and pain was on her face, and she turned around, facing all the dreamers. Finally, she spoke up, haltingly.
"Dreeamerrs of Underrlite....I am Qntprtzy. Iye will nott lett mye friendzz come too harmm becausse of mee. Itt izz clear thaat I cannot live heere." Her pet emphant, which had been twirling about her head, landed on her shoulder. As if on que, a dark form appeared at the portal, and Gobolos came through. She looked at the dreamers assembled, and to Qntprtzy, and sighed.
Qntprtzy looked at Gobolos, and sighed. "Gobolos...yuu raisedd me ass one off yoour ownn. I thankk youu. Schazzel, Pazin, Jant...yoou arre my secondd familee as well. I will miss yoou all."
Qntprtzy raised her blade above her head, and thrust it down into her stomach, and collapsed. Her soulsphere blazed brightly for an instant...and then faded.
Schazzel screamer, and Pazin reached for her instinctively. The entrance of the Alliance was completely silent, everyone was too stunned to move.
Gobolos was the first to move, and walked over to where Pazin stood, holding the sobbing Schazzel in his arms. She reached a claw up, and set it reassuringly on Schazzel's shoulder. Schazzel turned, and smiled at her. Gobolos turned to the baby emphant, which was flying around aimlessly searching for Qntprtzy, and called to it. The baby emphant alighted on her outstretched claw, and Gobolos motioned it toward Schazzel. The small emphant flew over, and landed on Schazzel's shoulder, and nuzzled her.
Schazzel's smiled wearily through her tears, and Gobolos patted her shoulder again. Then, she turned, and departed through the portal. Qntprtzy's baby emphant curled up on Schazzel's shoulder, and fell asleep.
One by one, the members of Calenture, the Union, and the Protectors slowly, and slightly ashamedly, shuffled out the entrance to return to their house. The final one, a dark, imposing man with a black goatee and dark hair, spared one last moment to glare at Pazin and Schazzel, and departed.
Finally alone, Schazzel wiped the tears from her eyes, and smiled to Pazin.
"Well, Schazzel...we did our best for her..", Pazin said wearily, "but she's gone now."
"Yes, Pazin," Schazzel replied as the baby emphant awoke and began flying in circles above her head. "She is gone...but not forgotten."
Chapter 12
Once again, flames lept through the sky in Upper Basin, and cheers erupted from the great crowd of dreamers assembled there. Pazin smiled warmly at his Schazzel, as he lifted her hand gently up to his, and slid the ring on her finger.
Jant looked at the two, so completely in love, and said, "I now pronounce you husband, and wife.", he said in a loud, authorative voice. "You may now kiss the bride."
Which Pazin did happily.
